David Lee Chambers was born Jan 13, 1831 in Switzerland County, Indiana and died Jan 18, 1902 in Leslie Pricinct, Wayne County, Nebraska at the age of 71.

According to Switzerland County, Indiana marriage records, David Chambers married Sarah Jane Fradenburg on Aug 19, 1851. The marriage license was issued on Aug 18, 1851 by Circuit Court clerk Charles F. Jones. They were married the next day by Wm I. Fleming, Minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. The certificate was filed on Oct 8, 1851.

A marriage license was issued to David Chambers and Polly Sherman on Apr 28, 1853 by Circuit Court clerk Ira N. Malin, with no record of marriage.

David L. Chambers married Miss Jane Ann Smith on Jun 9, 1853. The marriage license was issued on Jun 8, 1853 by Circuit Court clerk Ira N. Marlin. They were married the next day by I.M. Mellenner. The certificate was filed on Jul 1, 1853.

He married Henrietta Augusta Jenkins on Dec 7, 1854 in Keokuk County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Albert Jenkins and Mary Ann (Polly) Lockhart. She was born Sep 11, 1838 and died Feb 13, 1917 at the age of 78.

The Iowa state census for 1856 for Keokuk County, Jackson (page 768), listed David L. Chambers, 25, born in "Id" (Indiana), farmer, Henrietta Chambers, 17, born in Va, James M. Chambers, 3, born in Indiana, and Mary J. Chambers, 0, born in Iowa. This is the first and last mention of son James that I've found in the historical records. He was apparently the son of David's wife Jane Ann Smith, whom he married on 09 Jun 1853. James would have been born in 1853 to be age three in the 1856 census.

David Lee Chambers purchased or sold land in Keokuk County, Iowa as follows:

On Sep 13, 1852, he purchased land from J. Cachritine (?).

On Sep 15, 1852, he purchased 79 acres from his father for $500.

On Oct 9, 1852, he purchased additional land from J. Casterline (?).

On Dec 9, 1854, he sold 20 acres to his brother Thomas Whiten Chambers.

On Feb 20, 1858, he bought 40 acres from W. A. Jordan.

On Feb 28, 1858, he bought 10 acres from John Borrough.

On May 29, 1858, he bought 40 acres from W. C. Sisson.

On May 10, 1859, he bought 55 acres from Rachel Myers for $550 for his father-in-law Albert Jenkins. An account of this transaction is in the biography of Albert Jenkins.

On May 20, 1859 (?), he again bought 45 acres from W. C. Sisson.

David Lee Chambers bought land in Henry County, Illinois on Feb 27, 1860.

According to granddaughter Myrtle Chambers Nelsen, "They met on a wagon train coming west. The story I was told by our parents was, that they became sweet hearts and Grandpa helped Grandma herd the cows that they were driving behind the wagons.

"Grandma Chambers or Henrietta Jenkins was born in West Virginia. After they were married they lived for a while in Illinois. Then they moved to Pottawattamie County in Iowa, where our father was born, Albert Minor Chambers was born January 24th, 1858, at Nashua, Iowa. Grandpa helped to build 'The Little Brown Church in the Valley.' I understand that he sometimes preached here and taught Sunday school.

"From there Grandpa and Grandma crossed the Missouri into Nebraska. Here close by Grandpa with the help of Aunt Nora Grubb and others he built the first church in Wayne County. He also preached here on Sunday and taught Sunday School. They were of the Methodist faith."

His obituary stated, "His parents were of German descent. At the age of 13 he joined the Methodist Episcopal church under conviction, but said he did not find perfect and full enjoyment of religion until about 20 years old, and since that time has been a constant, earnest worker for the salvation of souls. Coming under conviction at so early an age it might well be said of him that his has been a life time struggle for righteousness.

"He moved from Indiana to Iowa in the year 1855, and was married to Miss Henrietta A. Jenkins in that state. From Iowa he moved his family to Henry County, Illinois, where his sister, Mrs. W.G. Fisher of Geneseo, now survives him, she being his only living relative outside of his own family."

At one point in his life, according to one family story, he worked in a coal mine and was badly injured, so he went back to Pennsylvania "where his parents lived."

In the 1870 census for Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois (page 439), the David Lee Chambers family consisted of the following:

NAME AGE PROFESSION PLACE OF BIRTH
Chambers David L 38 Farmer Ind
Henrietta H 32 Keeps house Va
Mar 14 At school Ia
Albert 12 " "
Tina A. 10 " Ill
Sarah 5 "
Edwin J 8 "
Minnie 3 "
Angeline 4/12 "
Nelson John 13 Farm laborer Sweden

The value of David L. Chambers' real estate was listed as $2000, and his personal estate was listed as worth $600. Neither of their fathers or mothers were cited as "foreign born." Actual ages during this census were David Lee 39, Henrietta 31, Albert 11, and Edwin J. 7.

David Lee Chambers' obituary continues: "From Illinois he moved his family to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where he organized the first district school and first Sunday school in Center Township and named it the Pleasant Ridge Sunday school. The first district school and first preaching in that township was held in his private dwelling. In the following years a schoolhouse was built, in which he was a director four years. He organized the first M.E. class at that school house and was its leader for several years. The good work he started grew as the years rolled on and now a large and beautiful church known as Mt. Zion, is the result of his early labors."

The family moved to Iowa between 1872 and 1875.

In the 1880 census for Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Roll 361), the David Lee Chambers family consisted of the following:

NAME AGE PROFESSION PLACE OF BIRTH
Chambers, David 55 Farmer Indiana
Henrietta 46 Keeps House Indiana
Edwin J 17 Works on Farm Illinois
Sarah 15 At Home Illinois
Minnie 12 Illinois
Nora 11 Illinois
Jacob 7 Illinois
Etta 5 Iowa
Mabel 1 Iowa

Actual ages during this census were: David Lee 49, Henrietta 41, and Nora (Angeline) 10. Both of David Chambers' parents' birthplaces were recorded as "Pa." Both of Henrietta's parents' birthplaces were recorded as "Va." However, in contradiction to the 1870 census and other sources, Henrietta's birthplace was recorded as Indiana rather than Virginia.

The Francis Quick family was listed immediately after the David Chambers family in the 1880 census. Mary Quick, David Lee Chambers' eldest daughter, was listed as 24 years of age and born in Iowa. Her daughter Jesse was listed as age 3 and daughter Jennie as born in May, 1880.

David Lee Chambers' obituary continues, "In the year 1884 he moved his family from Iowa to Wayne county, Nebraska, on the farm he had purchased in Leslie precinct, where he has since made his home, till the angel of death came to carry him to his home beyond. He organized the first Sunday school and also the first M.E. class in Leslie precinct, and was the founder of the church now bearing his name. His name and the names of all his children is now encased in the corner stone of the Pleasant Valley church." This church was destroyed by a tornado in Jun 1954.

In the 1885 census for Leslie Precinct, Wayne County, Nebraska (Roll 54, E.D. 772, page 51, line 38), the David Lee Chambers family consisted of the following:

NAME AGE PROFESSION PLACE OF BIRTH
Chambers David 52 Farmer Indiana
Henrietta 48 Keeps House Virginia
Albert 26 Farmer Iowa
Edwin J. 24 Farmer Illinois
Nora 15 Illinois
Etta 9 Iowa
Jacob 13 Illinois
Mabel 6 Iowa
Hattie 4 Iowa
Leonard 4 (Grandson) Iowa
Widener Minerva 21 (Boarder) Illinois
--- Lerne 48 (Boarder) Illinois

Actual ages during this census were: David 54, Henrietta 46, Edwin J. 22, and Jacob 12. Henrietta's father's birthplace was listed as "Ind" rather than "Va" in the 1880 census.

Son Albert was also listed in this same census as living with his brother-in-law Thos Mayberry and Albert's sister Sarah, Thomas Mayberry's wife, in Leslie Precinct. His age is shown as 25 (actually he was 26), and his birthplace as Illinois rather than Iowa as shown where he was living with his parents and as shown in the 1870 census.

In the 1900 census for Leslie Precinct, Wayne County, Nebraska (Roll 18), the David Lee Chambers family consisted of the following:


NAME RELATION BIRTH DATE B'PLACE F. B'PLACE M. B'PLACE
Chambers
David L Head Jan 1831 Indiana Penna Ohio
Henrietta Wife Sep 1838 Virginia Virginia Virginia
Hattie Daughter Aug 1883 Iowa Indiana Virginia
Leonard L. Grandson Jul 1883 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Ruth Granddau Sep 1894 Nebraska Unknown Iowa
McCrea
William Nephew May 1889 Nebraska New York Virginia
John D. Nephew May 1891 Nebraska New York Virginia

Hattie's and Leonard's ages in the 1885 census was 4, putting their birth date ca. 1881, but both are shown two years younger in this census. David Lee's mother's birthplace was listed as Ohio rather than Pennsylvania as shown in the 1880 and 1885 censuses. The McCrea children were the children of Emily Jane Jenkins and her second husband William McCrea. Emily Jane had died in 1894 at the age of 44.

The 1910 census for Leslie Precinct, Wayne County, Nebraska (Roll 857), listed Mrs Henrietta Chambers, age 71, and Ruth, age 15. The George B. Grubb family, including Henrietta's daughter Nora A., age 40 (actually 41), was living with her.

His obituary concludes, "He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Mrs. Henrietta A. Chambers, and the eleven children who were born to their union as follows: Albert M., Edwin J., and Mrs. Sarah Mayberry, of Thurston County; Jacob G., Mrs. Tina Killion, Mrs. Etta Yarrington, and Mrs Mabel Broadstone, of Wayne County; Mrs. Mary J. Quick and Miss Hattie Chambers, of Burt County; Mrs. Minnie Gibson, of Cedar and Mrs. Nora A. Grubb, of Loveland, Colorado.

"Clasping in close embrace, the hand of his wife and constant companion for over 45 years his dying words were: "I praise the Lord for his goodness to me." Rev. F.A. Hugh, of Pender, conducted the funeral services. Being an invalid for over 40 years, we find that the life of the deceased bore great similitude to the life of Paul the epistle."

His gravestone is in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Wayne County, Nebraska, six miles west of Pender on Route 16, and one and one half miles north on the east side of the road. It is located between 849th Road and 850th Road on 585th Avenue. GPS is Latitude 42.1411 and Longitude -96.8414.

The apparent child of David Lee Chambers and Jane Ann Smith was:

i. James M., b. ca. 1853

The children of David Lee Chambers and Henrietta Augusta Jenkins were:

i Mary Jane, b. Mar 18, 1856, m. Oakley Francis (Frank) Quick on Jan 8, 1874, d. Dec 19, 1943
*ii Albert Miner, b. Jan 29, 1858, m. 1st, -- Johnson; 2nd, Dora Galbraith on Feb 18, 1886; 3rd, Mary Grier on Mar 11, 1890, d. Apr 15, 1927
iii Tinabelle Ann, b. May 23, 1860, m. Charles A. Killion on Jan 29, 1879, d. Nov 12, 1937
iv Edwin Joseph (Jasper), b. Aug 18, 1862, m. Margaret Elizabeth (Lizzy) Pollock on Nov 25, 1888, d. Sep 7, 1944
v Sarah Tabitha, b. Oct 23, 1864, m. 1st, Fremont Morris in 1882; 2nd, Thomas Mayberry on Apr 9, 1885, d. Mar 28, 1917
vi Minnie (Emma) Augusta, b. Oct 3, 1865, m. Samuel A Gibson on Jun 12, 1883, d. Jun 24, 1942
vii Nora Angeline, b. Feb 23, 1870, m. George B. Grubb on Mar 12, 1894, d. Apr 19, 1957
viii Joseph (Jacob) Gideon, b. Oct 3, 1872, m. Elizabeth Alma Grubb on Feb 24, 1894, d. 1931
ix Henrietta (Etta) Mae, b. Oct 22, 1876, m. Herbert Leroy Yarrington on Feb 24, 1894, d. Oct 13, 1962
x Mabel Lenora, b. May 9, 1878, m. William G. Broadstone on Aug 19, 1894, d. Jan 10, 1967
xi Hattie Belle, b. Aug 1883, m. William Rader on Feb 6, 1902, d. Apr 5, 1903